St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-31
How School Inspector Postle-
thWaite Answers the Tax
payers Association.
Who Will Be the Man To Sue
eeed DR.. David Day as
Postmaster?
Two Years Passionate of DR..
Mabie at the First Bap-
fist Church.
Summary of the Local News
Gathered From All Sources
ON Sunday.
HOW THE MONEY GOES.
Some Food for Reflection on
School matters for the Tax
nayerS' ASSo iatiOn,

School matters for the Tax
payers Asso riation.
In the GLOBE of yesterday appeared
a report from the Taxpayers associa-
ton rejecting on the use of public funds
by the board of education. Following
up the matter GLOBE reporter called
upon A. G. Postlethwaite, of the board
of education. at his residence last even
ing, who made the following statement:
Eyes; saw the article in the GLOBE.
Of course, if the Taxpayers association
wish to investigate the workings of our
board they are at perfect liberty to do
so, as nowhere in tire statutes of Min
neSota can find any provision prevent
ing any citizen who so desires to eX-
anime the affairs of the board. 1t looks
as though the association is baSing its
calculations on comparisons with school
systems in Eastern cities. When they
come to make these comparisons they
will find that it does not cost so much in
those cities, and that they are not
obliged to use fuel for so long time
during chilly weather. Besides, eX
penSeS are always higher in new and
growing city than in an old one. There
are number of things that tend to
show greater cost per scholar in st.
=
brought about to some degree by
the erection of new school houses
in suburban districts and the
insides, which are always in advance Of
requirements. Take. for instance, Cleve-
land school. We were obliged to rent
three outside rooms to meet demands,
which fact alone clearly shows the de-
mand of that school. We are obliged to
make provisions for future needs, be-
cause of increasing population. What
would the citizens think if we should
sell an old building of one room and
build new one of two only? We must
make provisions
FOR FUTURE USE
the same as the city in grading streets,
grades them beyond the point Of pres
ent need because of the city'S growth.
We advertised for bids for four rooms,
though making provision for four more
in case they were needed, and at the
same time advertised for building of
eight rooms furnished. The board in
awarding contracts was governed some
what by the character of bids. Where
it was found that an eight-room build
ing would cost less in proportion the
contract was awarded on that basis. A
considerable amount of money has been
expended Oh old buildings for heating
and ventilation. This expenditure was
forced on the board by reason of COM
plants from the board of health. 1t
has not been considered proper to adj
vertiSe this fact, but as the children of
the Taxpayers association were some
what interested in the sanitary condi-
ton of school buildings, and as the mat
r. tiers complained of have been remedied,
there is no longer any necessity for
silence on the subject. The matter of
,a,1oi,.c 70 old l,uil1li,,uc ba
of furnaces, new rules, slate black
boards and in fact everything that goes
to make the schools of ST. Paul first
class in every respect has been serious
burden but will not be felt to so great
an extent in the future. An effort has
been made to furnish st. Paul with first
class educational facilities, such as were
enjoyed by those who came among US
from older Eastern cities. But. as be-
fore stated, while doing this the board
is obliged to anticipate further demands
upon it OF erect an inferior style of
building Would 1t be economy to
erect an inferior building of one room
for present needs and in a year tear it
down and erect another of two rooms?
Thus far the only complaints from citi-
ZenS of school districts are petitions for
additional accommodations. Complaints
of this nature cannot be overcome at
once, but in some instances steps have
been taken for the purchase of sites for
future use, and it is believed. that all
the property of the board can be sold
to-day at a very large advance over its
cost, or any portion can thus be dis
posed of. The school year in ST. Paul
is ten months. Heat in the buildings
must be had all of seven months and in
every month except perhaps the month
of June. | know of some of the
cities east where the school wear
is nine months and the teachers are
hired at a stated rate per month and
paid only for stated term of service, or
the nine months. Another thing is that
their salaries and living expenses are
less than they are here. You have no
idea of the large number of bills that
come into US for grading, etc. AS to the
questions propounded by the Taxpay-
erS' association. they will, of course be
presented to the board of education, and
! prefer to let the board answer them.
81 do not see that the report of the as
ISOLATION
CAN MATERIALLY CHANGE
anything done by the board, especially
as all the contracts have been awarded,
teachers hired at stated salaries, etc.
The board will furnish whatever other
information there is, though any one is
entitled to examine its books and see
the actual cost and expenses. You see
the city departments treat the property
of the board of education just the same
as individual property. The board is
an incorporated body, can sue and be
sued, and, in fact, treated as an indi-
Vidual."